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4 Sheets--Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

P A. HUBEL & J M SMITH GELATINE CAPSULE DIPPING MACHINE.

No. 465,932. P t nted Dec. 29, 1891.

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m: NORRIS PETENS co.. FHOTO LITH 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

F A HUBEL & J M SMITH GELATINE CAPSULE DIPPING MACHINE. No. 465,932. Patented Dem-Z9, 1891.

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4 Sheets-Sh'eet 3.

(No Modei.)

F. A. HUBEL & J. M. SMITH. GELATINE CAPSULE DIPPING MACHINE. No. 465,932. Patented Dec. 29; 1891.

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 4. F. A. HUBEL & J. M. SMITH. GELATINE CAPSULE DIPPING MACHINE.

No. 465,932. Patented Dec. 29, 1891.

WITNESSES UVVEJVTOfiS.

NlTED STATES ATENT' OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. HUBEL AND JESSE M. SMITH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN; SAID SMITH ASSIGNOR T SAID IIUBEL.

GELATINE-CAPSULE-DIPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,932, dated December 29, 1891.

Application filed $eptemher 12, 1890. Serial No. 364.782. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, FREDERICK A. HUBEL and JESSE M. SMITH, of Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and'useful Improvements in Gelatine-Capsule-Dipping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for dipping-capsule-molds in a solution of gelatine to and setting the gelatine on the molds preparatory to cutting and drying.

In the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front view of the machine, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a ver- [5 tical section of the machine on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa horizontal section of the machine on the line Y Y of Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show vertical sections and top view of the receiving-plate holder on an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a vertical section, enlarged, showing the lifting device, friction-clamp, and stops. Fig. 8 shows the locking device of the starting-gear. Fig. 9 shows the starting-gear. Fig. 10 shows a front view of the device which operates the clutch on the main driving-pulley and also the device for unlocking the revolving head. Fig. 11 is an end View of the same, showing the device which looks the revolving head. Fig. 12 shows one 0 of the segmental gears which cause the turnover-plate holder to revolve. Fig. 13 is a vertical longitudinal section of the clutch mechanism. Fig. 1a is atop view of the same, and Fig. 15 is a cross-section on the line T T of 3 5 Fig. 11.

Like numbers indicate like parts in all the drawings.

1 is the main frame of the machine, in the form of a table with legs.

2 is a standard fixed to the frame, havinga horizontal shaft 3 fixed in its upper end, Figs. 4., 5, and (5. Mounted on the shaft 3 so as to turn freely upon it are two blocks 8, to which blocks are fixed two fiat plates 7. Each of 5 these plates has a strip fixed to one of its edges, having groove 9 formed in it. On the opposite side of each plate 7 there is a strip 10, having a groove formed in it, which strip is hinged to the plate so that it can be turned down, as shown in Fig. 6. A handle 11 serves to turn the strip up into place and a catch 12 holds it. A spring (not shown) forces the strip endwise and holds the catch in its notch. I

The capsule-molds are in the shape of pins 13, fixed to the plates 14. The edges of the mold-plates fit into grooves Qand 9, which hold the mold-plates while the receiving-plate holder is being turned about the shaft 3, but permitthe mold-plates to he slid in the direction of the grooves. A disk 4 is fixed to the shaft 3 and to the standard 2 and has a notch 15 formed in it, which receives latch 16. This latch works freely in a slot formed in a yoke 17, fixed to the plate 7. at its lower end, and is pressed into the notch by a spring 18. A handle 6, fixed to the latch, serves to draw the latch out of the notch and at the same time turn the plate-holder over.

A similar latch and handle are fixed to both plates 7.

Next to and in line with the receiving-plate holder 7 is the dipping-plate holder 19, hav ing grooves at its edges like those on the receiving-plate holder. The grooves in both holders register with each other, so that the mold-plates can be pushed from one to the other. The dipping-plate holder 19 is supported by rods 20, which are guided to move vertically by the blocks 21, fixed to the standard 31. A cross-head 22 connects the rods together. The weight of the dipping plate holder is counterbalanced by a weight or spring through the rod or rods 23. 'The motion of the holder is limited in its downward direction by the cross-head 22 coming in contact with the point of the adj listing-screw 24,

Fig. 7. It is limited in its upward movement by the cross-head coming in contact with the hook 25. This hook is pivoted to the frame 0 of the machine at 26, Fig. 7, and is held in the position shown by a spring 27, acting on the arm 28, made fast to the hook 25. The hook may be drawn back out of engagement with the cross-head 22 by pulling down on the 5 end of arm 28, which will permit the holder 19 to move up higher, as it is desirable at times.

It is necessary that the molds be raised at a regular speed, and one means for doing this is fully set forth in Reissued Letters Patent to F. A. Hubel and H. H. Taylor, No. 10,316. The clamping of the belt to the plate-holder The latch is pivoted 65 in that machine was performed manually. In this machine the clamping of the belt is performed by mechanical means. An endless belt 29 receives continuous regulated speed from a pulley. -(Not shown.) This belt passes round a pulley 30, journaled in the standard 31, forming part of the frame of the machine. One part of the belt 20 travels vertically upward close to the cross-head 22 and between it and the clamp 32. Fig. 7. This clamp is pivoted to the end of the short arm of a bell-crank, which is pivoted to the cross-head at 34. The long arm of the bell-lever 35 passes through a slot in the cross-head, and a wire or chain 36 is connected to its end and extends downward to a convenient distance to be reached by the operator. A spring 37 holds the arm 35 up and holds the clamp 32 away from the belt 29. Then the chain. 36 is drawn down, the clamp is forced against the belt and pinches it against the cross-head, so that whatever motion the belt 29 may have is given to the dipping-plate holder. When the chain 36 is released, the plate-holder is free to move independent of the belt.

Directly below the dipping-plate holder 19 is a vessel 38, containing liquid gelatine. This invention is not confined to any particular form or construction of vessel. The vessel shown and described in Letters Patent No. 316,896 to F. A. I'Iubel and F. Reinhold is well adapted for use in the present invention. The liquid gelatine is kept at a constant level and in motion by a circulating device similar to that shown in said patent, No. 316,896, which may be driven bya pulley 39 and belt from any revolving shaft. The vessel may be heated by a gas-jet 40.

Next to the dipping-plate holder 19 and registeringwith it is the turn-over-plate holder 41. This holder 41 has grooved edges like those on the holder 19, so that the mold-plates may be slid from one to the other. The turn-ovcr-plate holder 41 is fixed to a shaft 42, which is journaled in a revolving head 43. This head is fixed to the shaft 44, journaled in the standard 45, fixed to the frame. A bevel-gear 46 is attached to the shaft 44 and engages the pinion 47, fixed to the shaft 48. This shaft is journaled in hangers 49 and 50, which are fixed to the frame. The pulley 51 revolves loosely on the shaft 48 and has clutch-teeth formed on its hub, as clearly shown in Fig. 14. The clutch 52 is connected to the shaft 48 by feathers, so that it can move lengthwise on but cannot turn on the shaft.

53 is a collar fixed to the shaft 48.

54 is an arm journaled on the collar 53 so that it may be turned without moving the collar. A spring 55 bears against the collar 53 and forces the clutch into engagement with the clutch on the pulley 51. A bar 56 is fixed to the clutch 52 and passes freely through an opening in the collar 53 and has fixed to its end an inclined lug 57, as shown in Fig. 13. A similar lug 58, with reversed incline, is fixed to the hub of the arm 54. The arm is normally held in one position by the link 59, Figs. 11, 13, and 14, so that as the shaft 48 revolves the inclined lug 57 rides up onto the inclined lug 58, and this draws the clutch 52 out of engagement with the pulley. .A weight 60, (see Fig. 1,) is fixed to the shaft 48 by an arm placed, preferably, in such a position that the weight is traveling downward when the clutch is being drawn apart by the inclines, the first part of the revolution of the weight having been made while the clutch is in engagement. This weight acts by its inertia to carry the shaft forward slightly at the end of each revolution and thus draw the clutch apart positively, the inclined faces of the lugs 57 and 58 being so proportioned in relation to the length of the clutch-teeth in engagement that when brought into the position shown in Fig. 14 the clutch-teeth will be entirely separated. ment given to the shaft 48 by the 122's meme of the weight, completely separating the teeth of the clutch, prevents their chattering, as they would do if their separation depended entirely on the action of the inclines. lVhen the flat faces of the inclined lugs 57 and 58 are brought into the position shown in Fig. 14, the forward movement of the weight will be stopped positively, in which position it will stand until the descent of the dippingplate will, in a manner hereinafter to be described, cause the arm 54 to be thrown far enough so that the inclined lugs 57 and 58 are disengaged, when the spring will instantly throw the clutch 52 into engagement with the hub of pulley 51 and the shaft 48 will receive another revolution.

There are two or more turn-o\ 'er-plate holders like 41. Three are shown, Fig. 3; but any number may be used.

It is necessary that the molds be turned over while the liquid gelatine is setting, so that the capsules will be of even thickness, and they may require to be turned at different intervals of time, according to the state of the atmosphere. One arrangement for turning the plate-holder 41 is shown in the drawings, and consists of a ring 61, concentric with the shaft 44 and fixed to the standard 45. The upper operative surface of this ring is the frustum of a cone having its apex at the intersection of the center lines of shafts 42 and 44. At convenient intervals there are recesses 62 formed-in this ring, which may be filled with blocks making the conical surface continuous or by segmental gear-blocks similar to those shown at 63, Fig. 12.

Fixed to the shaft 42 are pinions 64,having two opposite fiat sides and gear-teeth on the remaining two sides. These teeth intermesh with those of the segmental gears 63, and as the revolving head 43 revolves cause the shaft 42 to make a half-revolution. So

long as either flat side of the pinion 64 is in contact with the conical surface of the ring 61 the shaft 42 is held against turning and the plate-holder 41 is held in a horizontal po- This continued move.

' sition with the mold-pinsstanding either ver- Fig. 2.

tically up or vertically down. The plain and gear blocks 63 are interchangeable, so that any desired combination may be had. The plate-holders come to rest at the points A, B, and O, and the molds may be removed at either B or C, but are generally removed at C.

It is desirable that the machine may be operated with as little loss of time as possible and at the same time be positive in its operation. To this end it should be under the control of one person, so that the depression of the dipping-plate holder and the starting of the revolving head maybe done by one operation. A lever 65, Fig. 2, is pivoted to the frame 31. One end of the lever projects in toward the plate-holder 19. The end of the lever has a detent 66 pivoted to it, which may be raised,but cannot be depressed, with out moving the lever 65 with it. A lug 67 projects from the plate-holder 19, and as the latter is depressed the lug engages the detent 66 and forces it and the end of the lever 65 downward; or the plateholder itself may strike the detent with the same effect. As the lug 67 travels downward the detent travels out of engagement with the lug and the lever 65 flies back to the position shown in Connected to the other end of the lever 65 is a rod 68, which passes down through the table 1 and is connected to a bolt 69, which is guided in a bracket 70 and pressed downward by a spring 71, Figs. 8 and 9. A shaft 72 isjournaled at one end in the hanger 50 and at the other end in the hollow sleeve 73, which sleeve is journaled in the bracket 74, fixed to the frame 1. This sleeve is fixed to and receives continuous rotation from the pulley 75 by means of a belt from any revolving shaft and is frictionally connected with the shaft, which moves intermittently by means of the following mechanism: A collar 76 is fixed to the shaft 72 and bears against one end of the sleeve 73. This collar has a lug 77 on it, which engages the bolt 69. A disk 78 is mounted on the shaft 72 adjacent to the pulley 75, so as to slide on it and turn with it. This may be accomplished by making the end of the shaft square and forming a square eye in the disk or other equivalent means. The disk is pressed against the other end of the sleeve 73 by the spring 79, which may be regulated by the thumbnut 80. The friction of the collar 76 and disk 78 on the sleeve 73 tends to revolve the shaft 7 2 with the sleeve 7 3, and it will so revolve whenever the bolt 69 releases it.

Fixed to the shaft 72 is a cam 81, Figs. 10 and 11. This cam acts upon an arm 82, fixed to the shaft 83, journaled in the frame. An arm 84 is also fixed to the shaft 83, and has its end connected by a rod 85 to a bolt 86. The end of the bolt 86 strikes a lug 89, fixed to each of the arms of the head 43, and stops the turn-over-plate holder positively in register with the dipping-plate holder. lVhen the bolt is .drawn down, it is held down by the catch 90, pivoted to the bar 87 and extending up through the standard 45. A spring 88 serves to forcethe bolt 86 upward when the latter is released. Alug (not shown) on each arm of the revolving head 43 forces the catch 90 back before the plate-holder 41 arrives at the position of rest A, which permits the spring 88 to force the bolt 86 up and stop the revolving head, so that the plate-holder 41 registers exactly with the plate-holder 19. A crank-pin 91,fixed to the shaft 7 2,is connected by the link 59 with the arm 54, Fig. 2. When the shaft 72 makes one revolution,the endof thearm'54 is moved and returned to its first position, which causes the inclined lng 58 to travel past the lug 57, and thus permits the clutch 52 to engage the pulley 51.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The locking-strip 10 of the upper receivingplate holder 7 is turned down, a mold-plate or set of plates is placed on the plate-holder, and the locking-strip 1O closed. The plateholders 7 are then unlocked and turned over by the upper handle 6. The mold-plate is then slid into the dipping-plate holder 19, and at the same time a second plate is put into the receiving-plate holder 7 and turned over. The dipping-plate holder is now pressed down and the molds immersedin the liquid gelatine until stopped by the screw 24. The end of the chain 36 is pulled down, clamping the cross-head 22 to the belt 29. The molds are thus drawn slowly out of the liquid gelatine, and when the ends of the moldsleave the gelatine the pressure is let off the clamp and the plate-holder rises quickly to its upperposition and is stopped by the hook 25. The molds in the receiving-plate holder 7 are now slid into the dipping-plate holder 19, which forces thosein the dipping-plate holder into the turn-over holder 41. A new moldplate is laid in and turned over and the dipping-plate holder depressed as before. As the dipping-plate holder moves down it catches the lever 65 and carries it down, which draws the bolt 69 and unlocks the shaft 72. The sh aft makes one revolution and is stopped again by the bolt 69, which has come back to its first position; The shaft 72 as it revolves causes the cam 81 to draw the bolt and unlock the. revolving head, and the bolt is held down by the catch 90. I At the same time the shaft 72 in revolving causes the crank-pin 91 to draw the lever 54 back and allows the clutch 52 to engage the pulley, which causes the turning head to revolve. Before either of the turn-over-plate holders 41 arrives at the position of rest A a lug on the revolving head forces the catch 90 back and releases the bolt 86 in time to stop the plate-holder 41 just in register with the dipping-plate holder 19. Just before the plate-holder 41 arrives in this position the inclined lug 57 climbs up onto the lug 58 and draws the clutch apart; but the motion is continued by the weight 69 till the' no I each depression of the dipping-plate holder 19. \Vhen the revolving head is in motion, the plate-holders l1 may be turned over 0011- tinuously or intermittently or not turned at all, according to the arrangement of the blocks and the segmental gears in the recesses 62 of the ring 61. Whenever the revolving head stops, the mold-plates may be removed at either the position B or C.

It is obvious that many changes in the relative positions of the elements and in the elements themselves may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention. Thus instead of having the spring 37 to act on the clamps 33 to hold it away from the belt an arm may be projected on the opposite side and a weight placed thereon. So, also, while it is regarded as preferable that the weight shall be descending when the clutch disengages the pulley, the speed of the shaft and the gravity of the weight may be so regulated that it will operate in the same manner if the disengagement takes place while the weight is ascending and the weight is arrested at the upper part of its revolution. So, instead of having the segmental gearblocks detachably placed in sockets in the ring, permanent gear-teeth may be cast on the face of the ring. So, also, instead of a lug 67 on the reciprocating dipping-plate holder, there may be used any other means of tripping the lever with the movement either of the reciprocating plate or of a reciprocating gelatine-vessel. Both the plate and gelatine-vessel may and have been made movable, the only essential thing being that the molds shall be immersedin the gelatine to the requisite depth to form the capsule. So, also, instead .of a rotary receiving-plate holder, a fixed receiving-plate holder may be used, into which the plate maybe slid by hand, with its pins pointing downward, and thence be slid into the dipping-plate holder; or the receiving-plate holder may be dispensed with entirely and the plates slid, pins down, into the dipping-plate holder. So, also, the turnover-plate holders, instead of being attached to a head revolving in a horizontal plane, may be attached to one which revolves in a vertical plane either about a central axis or carried on an endless chain, the position of the shaft and gears in such cases to be modified to suit the new conditions.

\Ve have shown in the drawings and described in the specification the entire machine, although we only claim to be the joint inventors of the particular combinations set forth in the following claims, which combinations were added to the machine as invented originally by said Hubel, with combinations which were operative but not automatic, being operated by hand, as set forth in his application, Serial No. 364,793, and to which we jointly invented and added certain combinations, which are hereinafter specifically claimed. Still other combinations were added by said Jesse M. Smith, the sole inventor thereof, as set forth in his application, Serial No. 364,776, and for which hehas made concurrently with this a sole application, the claims of the several sole applications and of this joint application being made in accordance with the facts of sole or joint invention. The entire machine is represented in each of the said concurrent applications; but we disclaim as being of our joint invention any of the combinations set forth in the claims of either of the said sole applications of said I'lubel or said Smith filed herewith.

hat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a dipping-plate holder, a rotary receiving-plate holder, a turnover-plate holder, and means for stopping them when their plate-receiving grooves are in register, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a dipping-plate holder, a series of turn-over-plate holders, and means for bringi ng the latter successively into line with the former and stopping them with their plate-grooves in register, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a capsule-dipping machine, a receiving-plate holder 7, having plate-receiving grooves on both. faces, reversing-handles, and engaging catches, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with dipping-plate holder 19, rod 20, and cross-head 22, the adj nstingscrew 24 and hook 25, defining the normal movement of the dipping-plate holder, and the belt 29, clamp 32, and the lever attached thereto, whereby said movement is controlled, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the dipping-plate holder, rods, and cross-heads, the belt, clamp, spring 37, and lever 35, whereby the clamp is normally held away from the belt, substantially as set forth.

6. The turn-over-plate holders, in combination with the revolving head 43, shaft 44, bevel-wheels 46 and 47, shaft 4:8, loose pulley 51, and clutch mechanism whereby the pulley and shaft are thrown in and out of engagement, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with the revolving head i3 and stop mechanism and clutch mechanism on shaft 4-8, an arm on said shaft carrying a weight 60, whereby the weight continues the movement of the shaft and head after the shaft is set free from the pulley until arrested by a stop, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination with the revolving turnover-plate holder 41 and shaft 42, means for givinga' half-revolution thereto at intervals, substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with a turnover-plate holder and its shaft, the intermittently-revolving head 43, ring (51, the segmental gears 63, placed at intervals therein, and the pinion (ii on the shaft, whereby successive halfrevolutions are given to the turn-over plate as it moves forward, substantially as set forth.

10. In combination with the tu rn-over-plate ICC holders, shafts 42, and pinions 64, the recessed ring 61, and the interchangeable smooth and geared blocks inserted therein, whereby the intervals of turning the plates may be regulated, substantially as set forth.

11. In combination with the head 43, a locking-bolt 86, mechanism giving forward motion to the head, and means for simultaneously unlocking the head and starting its driving mechanism, substantially as set forth.

12. In a machine for dipping gelatine capsules, the combination, with a rotatory shaft, of a series of stationary segmental gears, arms carried on said shaft, other shafts journaled in said arms, a segmental pinion on each of the latter shafts, adapted to engage with said segmental gears, a plate-holder secured to the end of each of said latter shafts, and mechanism for imparting a step-by-step motion to said arms, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a capsule-dipping machine, the combination, with a dipping-plate holder and an intermittently-rotating plate-holder registering therewith, of locking mechanism for said rotating plate-holder controlled by said dipping-plate holder.

14. In combination with a movable dipping-plate holder, a rotatory shaft carrying at its end 'a head, one or more shafts journaled in said head, a plate-holder carried on said shaft and registering with the said dippingplate holder, a pinion on each of said shafts, and segmental gears in the line of travel of said pinion, with intermediate plain surfaces, substantially as shown and described.

15. In combination with a series of turnover-plate holders, shafts on which they are hung, and means for moving them forward step by step and for turning them at intervals upon their axes a half-revolution, substantially as set forth.

16. A turn-over-plate holder 41, in combination with a shaft 42, an intermittently-revolving head 43, and means for intermittently half-turning said shaft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

FREDERICK A. HUBEL. JESSE M. SMITH.

Witnesses:

RODNEY MASON, M. A. I-Iowrn. 

